I have been known to have a beer or glass of wine with dinner and carry. Soon the wife will have a permit, she can be designated shooter and driver.

I think probably the most useful dirrections for us to explore conversationally are:

Consensus says "having one or two with dinner while out and carrying is okay" (based on body weight and such, that is spot on pretty much a joyous colision of law and common sense). The law also talks about .04 and below for legal carry so we have a fixed number and that can be helpful. Doesn't take a chemist to figure that a glass of cabernet and a 1.5 oz 80 proof whiskey is about all a 200 pound man should drink to be within the law while carrying.

It is an entirely different topic when we discuss what to do with alcohol and guns on poker night at a buddy's. For one I can't sleep over at Figlios. For two, there are other environmental concerns at buddy's house (if keep our ammo in our pockets and lock the guns in the spare bedroom, is there a kid who might have a live round that could make way into bedroom while adults are cavorting in the kitchen - just a random example I am sure there are better ones) . . . so, these are separate issues.

The dinner out thing is an easy answer as the law and common sense seem to agree so keenly, the second question . . . I'd be inclined to apply the "dinner out" rules but would be happy to hear alternative suggestions -->

Its very simple, no one is going to force feed me anything, especially if I'm carrying.

I do not drink. I'd rather carry and not drink anyway. If I'm gonna get calories, I'd rather eat.

Add in to this the number of hours that pass while you're out. Your two drinks will be gone roughly two hours after you've finished. Your liver can remove about 1 drink per hour - or .015 g/ml from your blood.

Sure.

For those folks who can stick to a plan, I don't see anything wrong with a plan that keeps you a: well within the law and b: unimpaired in any serious way. (No, nobody -- outside of Dr. Johnny Fever -- actually gets better reflexes or judgment with any booze in them. But there's no need to get all paranoid about the Demon Rum; a normal person with a half a glass of beer in him is still a normal person, just with half a glass of beer in him.)

That said, I do know people who easily could stick with a "one beer" rule, or something similar, who simply don't drink and carry, and I think that's just fine, too.

I vaguely remember that episode...great television!

I stopped drinking the day I started carrying. That way I got both great excuse not to drink and excuse to carry

That's great to hear!! Congrats to you!!!!!!

Hopefully no one will have to use their pistol with in the two hour time frame after having two or more drinks. Even the smell of a beer or a drink during some form of LEO encounter isn't for me if I'm carrying.

Yep, remember this case?

http://www.twincitiescarry.com/forum/vi ... php?t=9318

It's still not resolved, but it may have been had he been completely sober.

That said, I've had a drink while carrying...

When out with the wife at a decent place, I'l have a glass of wine. But, when I go downtown to a Twins game or Brother's or some other "kids" hangout, I won't have a drop. It almost makes me uncomfortable carrying when it is so crowded because if something were to happen...I don't know that I'm skilled enough to do anything useful with a crowd that dense. Although, I think I'm aware enough to know my limitations and not make a stupid decision that gets someone hurt...I hope.

Either way, I don't know that it's been proven that if the law weren't on the books, people would run around drunk with guns tucked in their waistband. Do drunk driving laws prevent alcoholics from gettin behind the wheel? I don't know.

Look at the old west for your answer

I see your point. It's kind of like drunk driving laws. I think they've become draconian but we know that drinking impairs judgement and that when behind the wheel, judgement is required in order to keep people safe. So, as a society, we need to decide what level of impairment is acceptable for someone handling other dangerous machinery (gun).

Based on what facts?